Attoenets



(No Model.) 7 '2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. S. PLU-MMER.

VEGETABLE PRESS.

No. 245,556. Patented Aug. 9,1881.

IIHIHIIIII l I ATTORNEYS.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets'$heet 2.,

W. S. PLUMMER. VEGETABLE PRESS. No. 245,556. I Patented Aug. 9,1881.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR:

N. PEI'ERS. Phowuho n lm. Wrhinlhn. 0. c.

ATTORNEYS.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM S; PLUMMER, OF SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA.

VEGETABLE-PRESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 245,556, dated August9, 1881.

Application filed February 5, 1881.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. PLUMMER, ofSan Jose, in the countyof Santa Clara and State of California, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Vegetable-Presses, of which thefollowing is aspecification.

My improvements relate to apparatus for pressing potatoes and othervegetables, and at the same time laying the pressed material upon traysin a convenient form for drying.

My invention consists in a press-box and follower of novel construction,and in combination therewith a tray fitted to move on a track beneaththe press-box, as hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a front elevation of the machine with thetracks in transverse section. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig.Sis avertical section on line or wof Fig. 1. Fig. at is an endelevation; and Fig. 5 is a partial plan View of a tray.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A is the press-box, supported by side standards, a a, from thestring-pieces I) I) of the tramway, which will extend to thedryinghouse. The box A is made of wood or metal of suitable shape andsize, and is formed at its top with a hopper-shaped extension, 0, forconvenience in filling the box. The bottom cl of the box inclinesdownward to a concave plate, 6, that is secured between the bottom d andthe lower front edge of the box, and in the plate 6 is a row ofopenings, 0, separated by partitions d, secured to bottom (I.

' f is a concave slide-plate supported in slideways at its ends, andconnected with arms f, that project from a rock-shaft, g, which issustained at the front of the press-box. On the end of shaftg is fixed alever, g, for use in moving the slide f to open or close the aperturesc.

. B is the platen or follower, sustained by rackbars It It, that risevertically from its ends, and engaging with pinions i i, that are on ashaft, i, which is sustained in the standards a of the press-box.

k k are friction-rollers carried by a shaft, 70, and bearing on the backof racks h, so that the racks are retained in contact with pinions t.

Z is the driving-shaft, having a crank-handle,

(No model.)

I, at one end, for its operation, and carrying a small pinion, m, and alarger pinion, m.

n is an intermediate shaft, having at one end a small pinion, a,engaging with a gear-wheel, F, on shaft 'i, and having at the other enda gear-wheel, n for engagement with the smaller pinion m ondriving-shaft Z. The shaftsln are sustained in suitable bearings abovethe pressbox in the standards a. Shaft lis fitted for end movement inits hearing, so that its pinion on may be engaged with thegear-wheel non the intermediate shaft, and thus, through the gearing described, aslow and powerful movement downward be given to the follower; or thelarger pinion 'm of shaft 5 may be engaged directly with the gear-wheeli of shaft 45 and a rapid upward movement be given to the follower.

The string-pieces b of the tramway are fitted with plates 1), set onedge, to serve as rails for trucks that carry the trays; or rails of anysuitable charaeter may be used.

U is a truck or carriage, consisting of a rectangular frame of suitablesize, mounted on four flanged wheels, 0, and provided with angle-ironspat the corners for retaining the trays in place.

The trays E are of usual character, being frames covered withwire-gauze, and fitted with cross-wires that sustain the gauze.

The trucks 0 are of awidth to pass freely between the standards a of thepress-box and of a height to sustain the gauze covering of the traysclose to the discharge-apertures c of the box.

In operation the potatoes or other vegetables will be first cooked bysteaming or boiling, and the follower B being raised boxA will befilled. The openings 6 will be closed by slide f, and the driving-shaftI will then be turned to force the follower down and compress the massin the box. When the desired pressure is obtained slidef will be openedand the follower, continuing to move down, will force the vegetables outupon the tray in streams. The force of the ejected streams will carrythe tray and truck gradually forward until it is filled, when the slidef is to be closed until another tray and truck are brought up. Thefilled tray is ready for removal to the drying-house. These operationscan be rapidly and conveniently performed, with a great saving of timeand labor.

I do not limit myself to the details of construction exactly asdescribed, as they may be varied within the scope of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent- 1. The press for preparing vegetables fordrying, consisting of box A, having discharge-apertures e, the followerB, fitted for reciprocation in the box, and the truck or carriage O,carrying a tray and fitted for being passed beneath the press-box,combined substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination, with a vegetable-press having discharge-openings atthe bottom, of truck or carriage O and tray D, fitted for movement on atrack beneath the box, substantially as shown and described.

3. In vegetable-presses, the box A, having a bottom formed by inclinedportion (1 and apertured concave plate 0, substantially as shown anddescribed.

4. The slide f, in combination with pressbox A, having the bottomaperture, 0, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. The follower B, racks h, operating-pinions 2, and friction-rollersis, combined together and with box A, substantially as shown anddescribed, for operation as set forth.

WILLIAM SYLVESTER ILUMMER.

Witnesses:

WM. B. Coven, WM. L. PLUMMER, GEORGE L. BAILEY.

